Minutes
Steering Committee Meeting
April 13, 2021 3:30pm
Zoom Meeting

Present: Don Mulvaney (Chair), Greg Schmidt (Secretary), Nedret Billor (Immediate Past Chair), Todd Steury (Chair elect), Ralph Kingston (Secretary elect) Bob Norton, Michael Tillson, Bob Cochran
Absent: Cheryl Seals, Emmett Will, Bill Hardgrave

Chair Mulvaney called the meeting to order at 3:35pm.  

Approval of Steering Committee Minutes, 3/2/2021:  Approved unanimously

Chair Opening Remarks:  Don Mulvaney introduced the Steering Agenda and the proposed senate agenda for 4/20/2021. On the agenda for discussion at Steering is a proposed senate agenda containing two action items and four brief informational items.

Comment: Greg Schmidt, Senate Secretary.  Schmidt noted that he has received communication from a faculty member who is considering bringing up the topic of Spring Semester Wellness Days at the senate meeting. He indicated that there is frustration among faculty that departmental meetings are being scheduled on wellness days and that some faculty earmark these days for academic “catch up” work.

Steering Discussion of Proposed Action Items
Vote on Rules Committee nominees to Senate Committee Service:
Presenter: Greg Schmidt, Secretary
Schmidt noted thanked Rules Committee members and presented the current slate of committee assignments to be voted upon at the April Senate meeting. He noted that most committee vacancies are filled, but several positions remain to be filled. He expressed hope that the remainder of the Senate committee vacancies will be filled prior to the May Senate meeting.  There was no discussion among Steering members on this agenda item.  
Establishment of a Senate Diversity Committee
Presenter: Ralph Kingston, Secretary-elect
Kingston stated that the proposal to establish the committee remains the same as was presented to the Senate as a Pending Action Item in March, with the exception of the addition of a member from University Outreach to the committee.  There was no discussion among Steering members on this agenda item.
Proposal for the 2023-2024 Academic Calendar
Presenter, Robin Jaffe, Chair, Calendar and Schedules Committee

Jaffe introduced the 2023-2024 calendar as a consensus product of the Calendar and Schedules Committee. He noted selected guidelines that the committee considered when crafting the proposed calendar and compared it to the 2022/23 calendar.  The presentation gave information on the total number of teaching days for each semester along with ending and starting dates, holidays, break dates, study days, finals periods, and graduation dates.  Steering had no discussion on the proposed calendar or questions for Jaffe.  

Steering Discussion of Information Items
Covid Resource Center (CRC) Update
Presenters:  Chris O’Gwynn and Dr. Robert Norton 

O’Gwynn and Norton commented briefly on vaccine availability and vaccinations. The CRC is beginning to work on Fall plans, fall COVID testing and Fall event guidelines.  Summer camp guidance has been posted. For the Senate meeting, O’Gwynn and Norton will speak on Fall and make themselves available for questions.  Steering discussion on this item centered on if COVID entry testing would be required for the Fall. AU administration is looking at peer institution plans for testing and considering the legal and legislative authority to require testing for returning students, faculty and staff.  Kingston told the speakers that, given the Governor’s new COVID recommendations, the topic of mask-wearing may come up at the Senate meeting.

Report on the Student Placement and Policy Updates.
Presenter:  Dr. Norman Godwin, Associate Provost for Academic Effectiveness
Godwin gave a short presentation on placement results for recent graduating classes.  He discussed the effort to collect data on graduating classes, the scope of data collection, and the findings of the collection. For Summer 2020 graduates, Godwin gave placement data (where a graduate has received a job or acceptance into grad program) at the time of graduation and placement data 6 months after graduation.  He noted the likely COVID effect on employment figures. Steering did not have questions for Dr. Godwin on his presentation. He noted that he would like to present this information every Spring.

Godwin closed his presentation for the Senate and then transitioned to noting possible policy updates that are being discussed with Associate Deans, including revisions to policies on undergraduate examinations, withdrawals and transfers. He closed by noting AUs lack of a policy on substituting a core course requirement. Most of our peers have such policies and this is in the works.

Report on the SACSCOC Reaffirmation process.
Presenter:  Dr. Megan Good, Director, Academic Quality & Improvement

Good presented to Steering on the topic of SACSCOC Reaffirmation.  She discussed what is involved in reaffirmation and what is meant by a snapshot year in the accreditation process. The presentation covered the work AU goes through to document compliance, the timeline for reaccreditation and SACSCOC expectations.  Regarding the snapshot, Good noted that SACSCOC requires the institution to  document and justify two standards; faculty qualifications and program assessment. She presented what will be required of AU and Faculty in providing evidence to SACSCOC. Good closed her presentation by giving contact information for Assessment at AU.

Steering discussion following the presentation centered on faculty qualifications and how SACSCOC officials weigh qualifications for various professions with terminal degrees other than the PhD. Steering also discussed with Good the consideration of teaching qualifications.

Did You Know Corner? SGA Update:
Presenter:  Rett Waggoner, SGA President

Waggoner noted that the SGA Executive is currently setting goals and he intends to present them to the Senate if completed.

New Business -  none
Approval of Agenda for 4/20/2021 Senate Meeting
A motion was made to approve the agenda and the motion was seconded.  The Steering Committee unanimously approved the senate agenda.

Adjournment
Following Steering Committee approval of the senate meeting agenda, a motion was made to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded and approved. Chair Mulvaney adjourned the meeting at 4:45 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,
Greg Schmidt